Large Increase in Preschool Enrollment Linked to Head Start,

The percentage of the nation's three- and four-year-olds enrolled in
preschool programs nearly doubled between 1970 and 1980, according to a
study by the National Center for Educational Statistics (nces)

Breaking enrollment figures into socioeconomic and racial categories
(blacks, whites, and Hispanics) in its most detailed look at the
preschool population to date, the federal research organization also
found

that black children in that age group were enrolled in school
programs in nearly the same proportion as were their white peers, but
for very different reasons.

Based on 1980 census information, the study found that 36.7 percent
of the nation's 6.2 million three- and four-year-olds were enrolled in
school, in most cases nursery school. This is up from 20.5 percent in
1970.

The enrollment rate for black children was 38 percent; it was 36
percent for whites, and 29 percent for Hispanics.

This dramatic rise in the rates of preschool enrollment parallels
the equally sharp increases in the number of women with children in the
nation's workforce (from 11.9 percent in 1950 to 47.8 percent in 1981)
and the number of one-parent families (from 10 percent of all families
in 1970 to 20 percent in 1981), according to census statistics.

Variety of Characteristics

The nces study examined a variety of economic, geographic, and
educational characteristics of the families of the three- and
four-year-olds enrolled in preschool programs.

It found that, in general, those in school are much more likely than
not to be from urban homes with a white-collar breadwinner who has at
least a high-school diploma and earns over $15,000 per year.

A much higher proportion of white children than black children come
from such backgrounds, the study found.

But despite such differences, the overall rate of black enrollment
was the same as that for white children because, according to the
study, a disproportionately high percentage of black children are
enrolled in Head Start, the federally funded preschool program for
disadvantaged students.

While 13 percent of all the three- and four-year-olds enrolled in
preschool programs during the fiscal year 1980-81 were in Head Start
programs, 34 percent of all black children and 30 percent of the
Hispanic children that age who were in school were in Head Start. The
figure for white children was only eight percent.

The study also noted that 69 percent of the white students surveyed,
but only 35 percent of the blacks, attended private preschools.

And in general, enrollment rates for three- and four-year-olds of
Hispanic origin were consistently lower than those for whites and
blacks, the study found.

Ground Rules for Posting
We encourage lively debate, but please be respectful of others. Profanity and personal attacks are prohibited. By commenting, you are agreeing to abide by our user agreement.
All comments are public.